RYMAN PREMIER LEAGUE DAY OF DESTINY: It's down to who has the most bottle, says Stones boss Walker
The Ryman Premier League campaign ends on Saturday and www.kentishfootball.co.uk brings you EXCLUSIVE previews for games involving Ramsgate and Tonbridge Angels - both challenging for a play-off position - and the winner-takes-all relegation showdown between Folkestone Invicta and Maidstone United at Cheriton Road. It’s going to be a very exciting, yet nervous, final day of the season.
MOBILE PHONE companies are expected to make a packet on Saturday, as the Ryman Premier League campaign draws to a dramatic climax, writes Stephen McCartney.
Here in Kent, Ramsgate, Tonbridge Angels, Folkestone Invicta and Maidstone United followers will be desperate to find out the outcome of other matches, and two of that quartet could be playing in another league next season.
With Chelmsford City already promoted to the Blue Square South, up to four clubs could still snatch fifth place to join Staines Town, AFC Wimbledon and AFC Hornchurch in next week’s play-off lottery.
Hendon go into their home clash against local rivals Wealdstone in fifth place and if they win that game then the hopes of Ramsgate and Tonbridge Angels are shattered.
RAMSGATE are currently level on points with the north London side but have a worse goal-difference, so manager Jim Ward knows his side must beat seventh-bottom side Boreham Wood at Southwood Stadium and hope that Hendon lose.
“Well, Stephen, we can only do what we do,” Ward said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk tonight. “We must win the game Saturday!
“We’re on a great run of form, we won’t pay any attention to Hendon whatsoever.
“We must concentrate (on our game), it will be hard enough to beat Boreham Wood, let alone be distracted by events elsewhere.”
Ramsgate are within three games of reaching their “pinnacle” - a place in the Blue Square South for the very first time.
When asked if he was expecting a tense afternoon, Ward replied: “Stephen, it is and it isn’t. I’m not belittling anything but Ramsgate Football Club are at the pinnacle of where they’ve never been before.
“We’ve had the good fortunes of winning the League Cup this year and have a chance of the play-off’s.
“If it goes wrong Saturday we’ll parade the Cup afterwards and celebrate that, because we haven’t done that yet. Let’s hope we’ve got two things to celebrate Saturday!”
The Rams boss knows he could lose his play-off place to close friend, Tommy Warrilow, his counterpart at Tonbridge Angels.
“Me and Tommy are big mates,” said Ward. “We go back years.
“You wouldn’t expect both teams (Hendon or Ramsgate) to win Saturday - you’ll see a final twist and turn before the play-off start.”
Ward will issue the usual rallying cry to his fully-fit squad ahead of Saturday’s showdown against Boreham Wood.
And he’ll tell his players the “same as what we always say - just be positive, with a positive attitude, all the things that we’re built on.”
They’re the words that all managers will be drumming into their players as the season enters it’s last 90+ minutes.
“If your experience won you anything, we’d be favourites, because we’ve been through it,” said Ward. “I met Gary McCann (Hendon manager) and Tommy Warrilow will be saying the same. There’s no mugs in this league - it’s a good league.”
There will be hundreds of people around the circuit trying to keep informed of all scores - let’s hope all the clubs are professional when giving out scores during the afternoon!!!
And Ward said: “Me and Danny will be concentrating on getting our three points and see what happens.”
Lee Minshull, Stuart Vahid, Simon Pettit and Dan Tanner have all come through a reserve team outing unscathed and are all available for selection.
That news keeps Ward upbeat that his side can end their league campaign with a win.
He said: “Confident that we win the game, I’m always confident. We can only do what we can do - we can’t influence what happens over there.”
Let’s hope that Wealdstone does a couple of Kent clubs a favour by beating Hendon.
“It’s a local derby for them,” said Ward. “I won’t imagine they’d be doing Hendon any favours. I think it will be an honest game of football, like any game in this league.”
TONBRIDGE ANGELS boss Tommy Warrilow takes his side to third-bottom Carshalton Athletic fully focused on picking up a victory - and praying that both Hendon and Ramsgate don’t win.
The Angels were sitting second from bottom in the Ryman Premier League when the former Horsham assistant took over at Longmead Stadium last November.
However, a change of team personnel and playing style, has seen the Angels fly up the table and found themselves in that fifth spot following their 4-0 home romp over Hendon earlier in the month.
But draws against Billericay Town and AFC Hornchurch mean the Angels have slipped down to seventh and have to rely on other results.
“It’s been up and down all the time, the unfortunate thing is there’s only one game left now and all we can do now is go to Carshalton and win and listen to what’s gone on the other games,” Warrilow said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk.
“I won’t concede anything until then because the league’s been so unpredictable all season.
“We’ve got to make sure we win at Carshalton and listen to the feedback from all the various sources.”
Hendon WILL crack under the pressure on the final day of the season and open the way for either Ramsgate or Tonbridge Angels.
“I hope you’re right!” replied Warrilow. “They lost to Tooting (last night) in the London Cup so I hope you’re right.
“I’m not going to concede anything, we’re going to Carshalton fully focused and winning there and see where it takes us.”
Carshalton can escape the drop with victory over the Angels and could even relegate both Folkestone Invicta and Maidstone United - who meet each other at Cheriton Road.
But Warrilow vows to win at Colston Avenue to make sure that does NOT happen.
He said: “I’ve got good mates at both those (Folkestone and Maidstone) clubs so I will be going there to obviously help them out as well.
“The more Kent clubs in our league the better. I know there’s rivalry etc but when those games aren’t there, I will miss them. I will go there trying to keep them in the league.”
Anthony Storey is suspended but he did miss last Saturday’s 1-1 home draw with AFC Hornchurch due to flu.
Speaking about central defender John Beales (knee) and midfielder Michael Phillips (toe), Warrilow said: “I don’t think they’ll make it.”
“We want to finish the season on a high,” said Warrilow. “We go there full of spirits, we’ve got nothing to be ashamed off and I’m proud of them and we want to finish as high up that league as possible.
Warrilow knows he is relying on two other results.
“Boreham Wood are fighting for their lives and they only lost 2-1 at Staines last night and need a win to avoid getting sucked down into the relegation zone,” explained Warrilow.
“All I want to concentrate on is getting three points for us. The boys couldn’t do no more than they did (against Hornchurch) on Saturday.
“A difficult situation to manage, we wanted to win but that point could be massive.”
Having lost out to Jim Ward’s Rams whilst with Horsham, in the Ryman League Division One South title race a couple of years ago on goal-difference, Warrilow is pleased that his side have the best goal-difference out of Hendon, Ramsgate and Ashford Town (Middlesex).
“I’ve been in two play-off finals, lost one and went up the following year but we lost the title to Ramsgate on goal-difference,” recalled Warrilow.
“Every point and every goal counts. Goal difference has come into both (play-off and relegation) scenarios.”
FOLKESTONE INVICTA midfielder Micheal Everitt is feeling “excited” ahead of Saturday’s winner-takes-all Kent showdown against Maidstone United at Cheriton Road.
Invicta MUST WIN the Kent derby to preserve their current status, although a draw could keep them up, depending on Carshalton’s and East Thurrock United’s results.
But the 25-year-old midfielder is relishing the Stones showdown.
“Quite excited really, it’s obviously quite important and I’m looking forward to the game,” the older Everitt brother said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk.
“It’s a must-win game, we’re well aware of what we have to do. There’s no real excuses, we need a win and hopefully we can get it.”
Folkestone were almost relegated after an hour of last Saturday’s local derby at Margate, but four-goals from striker Leigh Bremner clinched a thrilling 5-4 win mean that the team live to fight another day.
And Everitt urges the Folkestone faithful to out-sing the large travelling contingent from Maidstone.
“We’ve got our fans behind us, they were absolutely superb against Margate,” he said.
“We went 3-1 down and they never got on our backs, got behind us and we got the result we deserved.”
Saturday is the day that fans of both club’s must avoid getting on players’ backs if things aren’t going well.
“The fans played a big part in getting us back at Margate and they’ve been good all season so I don’t think a few Maidstone fans will effect us. If our fans get behind us, then we’ll be fine!”
Micheal, meanwhile, revealed that his younger brother James, is “gutted” as he sits-out Saturday’s showdown with a fractured foot.
“He fractured his foot, he did that against Hornchurch on Monday, he won’t be playing,” he said.
“He’s very disappointed, especially after being out of the team for quite a while and getting back in and he’s very gutted not playing in the biggest game of the season.”
With such a young squad, Everitt believes the future is good, no matter which division the club will be playing in next season.
“We’ve got a very young side, the longer they stay together, we’ll get better and will learn from this season,” he said.
“I just think the young lads that have come in have done ever so well, there’s no doubt in their talent.”
One thing that Everitt wants to avoid is former Invicta player-coach Mark Saunders sending his former club down.
Folkestone Invicta will only “train” on the morning of the game, and Everitt expressed how he’ll be feeling ahead of the big winner-takes-all showdown.
“I think I’ll be feeling excited, going into a big game with a big crowd,” he said. “I’ll be feeling quite confident.
“Take nothing away from them, they’re a good team with good players, Mark Saunders wants to put one over on us.
“We know exactly what we need - this time for sure we won’t have an earthquake!”
Invicta boss Neil Cugley, meanwhile, has kept very composed this week, ahead of the winner-takes-all showdown.
Cugley, speaking EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk, revealed that Leigh Bremner (heel), Samuel Kola Okikiolu (ankle) and Roland Edge (knee) will all be risked because “it’s the last game, it’s not as though you’re resting them for anything.”
And Cugley needs some experienced heads on the pitch for the battle against the Stones as all of his substitutes for the goal-less draw at home to AFC Hornchurch on Monday night were all kids.
Cugley, meanwhile, knows he will be without James Everitt with a broken foot.
“Looking forward to it, a big game, if you’re doing my job, you want big games,” said an upbeat Cugley.
“It will be one of those days, when I’m in a nursing home, (I can recall) what a great day that was or (how) disappointed (I felt).
Speaking about nerves on the day, Cugley, whose side escaped the drop on the final day of last season at Carshalton Athletic, said: “You have to get on with it now and do your best. We’ve got a small, young squad and I think they’ll give it everything. That’s all I can ask.
With many local players in his ranks, Cugley hopes that will see his club finish above the relegation line, although the Stones have more experience in their ranks.
“The young lads are all local lads so imagine what that means to them,” said Cugley.
Looking forward to the game, Cugley said: “I think it’s a contrast in styles really because Maidstone are big, strong and experienced, playing against a youngish, athletic (Folkestone) side.”
MAIDSTONE UNITED joint-manager Alan Walker believes the side that has the most “bottle” will escape relegation on Saturday - but is sorry that one Kent club will suffer the heartbreak of relegation.
The Stones have been in this situation before, well, needing to win on the last day of the season.
A 4-0 win at Sevenoaks Town sealed the Kent League title two seasons ago and a Ryan Royston brace sealed the Ryman League Division One South title twelve months later, winning a nervous encounter at Walton Casuals 2-1.
But it’s a different feeling at Folkestone Invicta on Saturday, and Walker, speaking EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk said: “It’s down to whose got more bottle - us or Folkestone.
“The last three seasons we’ve been in a position needing to win to win the league or get promotion - this time we need a win to stay up and that’s it.
Saturday’s game is a cruel dog-fight between two Kent clubs and one of them will go down.
“Obviously knowing that I’m based in Kent, Neil Cugley (the Folkestone manager) is a very good personal friend of mine but the facts are I do a job for Maidstone United, one club has to go down and my job is that Folkestone go down and not Maidstone,” explained Walker.
“I’m absolutely gutted. Cugs (Cugley) is a real good friend of mine. Whatever happens we’ll shake hands before and after the game. It’s all about dog-eat-dog.
“What I would say is looking at my squad and their squad, we’ve got the experience and the (Mark) Saunders’, (Ian) Selley’s and (Lee) Shearer’s, people like that and Folkestone have got a lot less experienced squad.
“Albeit the form guide says they’re in better form than we are. What I would say is what’s going to happen will come down to bottle and character.
“I look at both squads and I say we’ve got more better and character as far as I’m concerned.”
Both sets of players, meanwhile, are fully aware of the scenario at Cheriton Road.
“I think everyone’s aware of the importance,” said Walker. “It’s important, unfortunately somebody has to go down - it’s all down to bottle.”
Hundreds of Stones fans will be making the trip and Walker urges them to, as usual, get behind their side.
“There will be a massive Maidstone following there,” said Walker.
“It means one of the Kent clubs will go down, it’s unfortunate.
“I will be gutted as it means a Kent team will go down unfortunately. I live for Kent football, the same as yourself, all my roots are in Kent, I wish every success for every Kent team.
“We have to win. Maidstone United have to win full-stop. We are very aware, if we win we stay up. A win is a must.”
Stones chairman Mr Paul Bowden-Brown has issued a rallying cry to all Stones fans to get behind their side for the game.
“I would like to make an appeal to every supporter,” the Maidstone United chairman told www.maidstoneunited.co.uk.
“Please make every effort to make the journey to Folkestone on Saturday. The club needs your support, the players need your encouragement.
“This is one of the most important matches in the club’s history - let’s show what a fantastic club this is and that we are all proud to be part of it.
“Hopefully by our numbers we shall show everyone on Saturday at Folkestone that the chairman, directors, players and supporters are all 100% behind the club.”Ryman Premier League (Top 8)
P | TEAM | PLD | PTS | GD | Playing |
C | CHELMSFORD CITY | 41 | 87 | +49 | A Ashford Town (Middlesex) |
2 | Staines Town | 41 | 75 | +30 | A Billericay Town |
3 | AFC Wimbledon | 41 | 74 | +34 | A AFC Hornchurch |
4 | AFC Hornchurch | 41 | 69 | +24 | H AFC Wimbledon |
5 | Hendon | 41 | 65 | +13 | H Wealdstone - COME ON WEALDSTONE! |
6 | Ramsgate | 41 | 65 | +9 | H Boreham Wood |
7 | Tonbridge Angels | 41 | 63 | +22 | A Carshalton Athletic |
8 | Ashford Town (Mdx) | 41 | 63 | +10 | H Chelmsford City |
Ryman Premier League (Bottom 8)
P | TEAM | PLD | PTS | GD | Playing |
15 | Wealdstone | 41 | 51 | -8 | A Hendon - COME ON WEALDSTONE! |
16 | Boreham Wood | 41 | 50 | -12 | A Ramsgate |
17 | Hastings United | 41 | 50 | -12 | A Leyton |
18 | Folkestone Invicta | 41 | 49 | -20 | H Maidstone United |
19 | MAIDSTONE UNITED | 41 | 49 | -24 | A Folkestone Invicta |
20 | CARSHALTON ATHLETIC | 41 | 47 | -15 | H Tonbridge Angels |
21 | EAST THURROCK UNITED | 41 | 47 | -20 | A Harlow Town |
R | LEYTON | 41 | 16 | -85 | H Hastings United |
Visit club websites:
www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk
www.maidstoneunited.co.uk
BBC Radio Kent will be keeping you informed with the Play-off and relegation race in the Ryman Premier League in Matt Davison’s Saturday’s Sports Show - 96.7fm from 2pm - or you can listen LIVE on their website at www.bbc.co.uk/kent.
Peter Guise (Folkestone Invicta-Maidstone United); Mike Green (Ramsgate-Boreham Wood) and Stephen McCartney (Carshalton Athletic-Tonbridge) will bring you all the drama as it unfolds.
www.kentishfootball.co.uk will continue our Ryman League previews towards the end of the week and will bring you the news and interviews during the course of the weekend.